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NEC Australia to invest $25m into Wollongong region

Date: 13 November 2014Category: Company Announcements

Leading global technology solutions and services company NEC Australia has today signed an agreement with the University of Wollongong (UOW) that will trigger an investment of $25 million in the region and the creation of more than 100 jobs.

NEC will invest approximately $25 million into the Wollongong initiative through a new corporate office at UOW’s Innovation Campus and will hire an additional 110 staff to enable new service capabilities to regional NSW. The investment marks a major boost to existing capabilities and resources dedicated to serving customers in NSW.

NEC managing director Tetsuro Akagi was joined today (12 November) by The Hon John Ajaka MLC, Minister for Ageing, Disability Services and Minister for the Illawarra, as well as representatives from UOW, Wollongong City Council, Illawarra Business Chambers and NSW Trade & Investment for a ceremony to mark the signing of the lease.

“Securing the new NEC Australia office at the Innovation Campus is a great result for the Illawarra – it is expected to bring a whopping 110 jobs to the region,” Mr Ajaka said. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the hard work of the Advantage Wollongong partners for their role in facilitating this investment.

“Advantage Wollongong is a partnership between the NSW Government, UOW and Wollongong City Council which promotes Wollongong as a place to do business and invest, with the aim of creating jobs and bringing investment to the region. The partnership has been running for more than five years and this is a great example of what can be achieved.”

As part of the Wollongong launch, NEC Australia has also announced a new partnership with UOW that will include a graduate program to build ICT careers in the region and encourage growth in the sector in regional NSW.

The partnership with UOW strengthens NEC Australia’s integrated approach to enhancing service capabilities while developing skills in regional Australia to support the industry’s continued growth.

The addition of the Wollongong site to existing offices in NSW offers NEC Australia the foundation to deliver services for new and existing customers in regional NSW while directly delivering jobs growth to the area.

NEC Australia NSW State Manager Peter Boyd said: “This is one of our largest investments in NSW and gives us the space to add significant numbers of new permanent jobs in regional NSW.

“We’ve already created hundreds of new jobs to support our continued growth in South Australia and the Northern Territory and with the addition of Wollongong, NSW is now on the same trajectory in terms of new jobs and investments.”

Since 2008, the Advantage Wollongong partnership has worked together to facilitate more than 70 business attraction and expansion projects, creating thousands of jobs and bringing millions of dollars of investment to the region.

“Securing the global technology firm NEC is a major boost for the region and the state of NSW and we welcome their investment,” UOW Corporate Relations Director Craig Peden said.

“By moving into UOW’s Innovation Campus NEC will not only be part of a dedicated research, development and business precinct, they will have the opportunity to recruit UOW’s world-class ICT graduates and collaborate with leading researchers. At the same time current and future students have increasingly exciting career prospects right here in Wollongong."

“The unique combination of state-of-the-art real estate, access to talent by way of UOW’s student and graduate pool and the wonderful business and lifestyle benefits of a Wollongong location makes for a very compelling business case for the Innovation Campus as a business destination of choice.”

UOW is one of Australia’s largest information and communications technology institutes with more than 2500 students enrolled in 2013. UOW graduates enjoy the enviable position of achieving one of the highest employment rates nationally, along with typically higher starting salaries compared to graduates from other institutions.

Through the Strategic Partnership with UOW, NEC can provide a wide range of solutions to current and future customers that extends beyond ICT contracted services. NEC will look to bring global capabilities to the Wollongong Region by introducing its advanced innovation programs being led out of Japan.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM said this was good news further cementing the city’s growing role in providing an innovative and welcoming city for information technology and communications staff.

“We have one of Australia’s foremost research and commercial precincts, the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus. The decision by NEC to house their IT staff in this campus will bring dividends for the company as well as for our city.

“Situated just one hour south of Sydney the Innovation Campus offers a perfect opportunity for organisations that require a centre for innovation and research excellence in high quality and modern offices. Let me also congratulate Advantage Wollongong which has been liaising with NEC on the best solution for their IT services.”